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y H. A. AINSWORTH.

. METAL ,BBNDING MACHINE. l155.295.551. l 12555115.55 M55. 25, 1584.v

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N. PETERS. Phommmyapm. wzmingwn. o. c.

. UNITED STATES fATiNT4 OFFICE@ IIENRY'A. AINSVVORTH, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS, VHIIE COMPANY, OF SAME PIACE.

METAL-BENDING MACHINE.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,851, dated March 25, 1884 `Application filed November 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concer/t Be it known that I, HENRY A. Ainswonrrr,

of Moline, in the county of RockV Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain I1n 5 provements in Metal-Bending Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal-bending machines; and it consists in anovcl construction of the same, whereby strength and compactness are combined with simplicity of construction and great power of operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the improved machine, and Fig. 2 a top plan view of the same.

Machines of this class have heretofore been made with a revolving shaft, carrying at each end a crank-wheel, to the crank-pins of which wheels the moving cross-head or bunter was 2o connected by heavy pitmen or connecting-bars,

wheel applied thereto at a point midway between the two crank-wheels. Such construction is found in practice because necessitating a very heavy shaft to withstand the torsional strain put upon it, and, further, because themachine so made is not as compact or rigid as is desirable. To overcome such objections, I construct the improved machine in the following manner, reference being again made to the drawings, in which- A indicates a heavy cast-iron base or frame, which constitutes the bed of the machine, and is formed with abutmcnts or heavy lugs c at one end, to or against which is applied a die of any desired form. At or near the opposite end of the base-frame suitable bearings, b, are formed to receive the shaft B,which carries at each end a large gear-wheel, C, just outside of the frame. The wheels C are each formed or provided with a`heavy crank-pin, c, and these crank-pins are connected, by pitnien D with opposite sides or ends of a sliding crosshead, E, which moves back and forth upon the upper face of the base or bed A when the shaft VB and wheels C rotate, said face being planed true and smooth to form suitable bearing and guiding ways for the head, and formed with,`

overhanging ribs or ways e to receive the guiding-blocks d which hold the cross-head in proper position upon the ways. At the same said shaft receiving motion through a gearto be objectionable,`

end of the frame that bears the shaft B is an A-shaped frame, F,which rises from the base or bed A and straddles the shaft, as shown. The front faces of the upright standards of the frame F are formed or furnished with boxes f, in which is mounted a shaft, G, car,- rying at each end a pinion, H, which pinions mesh with and give motion to the gear-wheels C, the shaft itself receiving motion `through a gear-wheel, I, meshing with and driven by a pinion, J, on a pulley-shaft, K, preferably 4carrying fast and loose pulleys L and M. The gear-wheel I is loose upon shaft G, andis set to `one side ofthe middle of the shaft to `make room'for a sliding clutch-sleeve, N, having j projections to enter cavities in the hub of said wheel, so that when thrown into engagement with the wheel the latter will be caused to rotate with the shaft, .the collar being free to slide longitudinally on the shaft, but prevented by a spline or feather from turning thereon, as is usual with such clutches. A shiftinglever, O, serves to throw the clutch into or out of engagement, as desired. 75

As seen in Fig. l, both the cross-head E and the abutments a are made with straight npright faces, and to these faces are applied any form of dies desired, seti-screws 4or bolts g being provided, by which to accurately adjust the stationary die.

P Q indicate the dies.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. Motion is given by belt or otherwise to shaft K, through band-pulley M, and is transmitted from said shaft to the shaft G through pinion J and gear-wheel I, thence by pinions H Htc gear-wheels C C, and from them to eross-head E through pitmen D D. It will be seen that the gearing reduces the speed of 90 the wheels AC very greatly from that of pulley M, givingto the cross-head only one stroke for fifty revolutions, or thereabout, ofthe bandpulley; hence the movement of the cross-head is easy and gradual, but attended with great power, it being 'found by long experience that to successfully bend cold iron without impairing its strength and integrity the action must be a gradual one, in order to give the particles time to slide upon eachother and rearrange roo themselves to suit the changing form, :instead of being separated by a sudden blow or strain.

By connecting the erosshead directly to the gear-wheels C at each end of shaft B, and ap plying,` power directly to each of said wheels, the shaftis almost entirely relieved of torsional strain, and both sides or ends of the crosshead are caused to advance exactly in unison, avoiding any tendency to bind or cramp, as Sometimes occurs Where the old plan of construction above referred to is followed.

The gearing may beincreased or diminished, as found expedient for the class of Work to be done.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is I. I'n a bendinganachine, the combination of bed A, provided with a fixed die, shaft B, provided with gear-wheels C C, having,` crankpins c c, cross-head E, and pitnien D D, conJ necting` the cross-head with said erankpins, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described bending-machine, consisting of bed A, provided with a stationary die, shaft B, provided with gear-wheels C C, cross-head E, pitinen D D, connecting the cross-head and the gear-Wheels, shaft G, provided With pinions I-I II and gear-wheel I, and shaft K, provided with pinion J and band- Wheel L, all combined and operating snbstantially as shown and described.

3. In a bending-machine, the combination of a bed-frame carrying a stationary die, a reciprocati n g cross-head arranged to n'iove to and from said die, a shaft provided at opposite ends with lgear-Wheels, pitnien connecting said gear-Wheels with opposite ends or sides of the cross-head, and a second shaft connected with or driven by a prime motor, and provided with pinions to mesh with and operate the gear-Wheels of the first shaft, whereby the torsional strain of said shaft is avoided.

4L. In an organized machine for bending metal, the combination of bed-frame A, provided With abntments a, upright frame F, shaft B, provided with gear-Wheels C C at its ends, crosshead E, pitnien D D, connecting` the cross-head and gear\vlieels, shaft G, loose gear-Wheel I, clutch N, pinion J, shaft K, and band-wheel L, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

HENRY A. AinsWonTi-I.

Vitiiesses:

W. J. ENTRIKIN, J. J. WILLLiMs. 

